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THE DESCENDANTS 



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BENJAMIN ROCKWOOD, SR. , 



OF GRAFTON, MASS. 



WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS ANCESTRY AND THE 
EARLY ROCKWOODS IN MASSACHUSETTS. 






By CHARLES a!''FLAGG. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 
1905. 



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PRESS OF GIBSON BROS. 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 

1905 

Gift 
Author 
(PeriBo) 



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Dedicated to 7ny dear aunt 

Mx^, iHaria (iUma (J^kgg) ^mX, 

on her ^ist birthday, February 21, 1905, in memory of 
our companionship in the past : at Kingston, 
at Bernardston, afid more recently in the 
home life in Washington. 



PREFACE. 

In these days of genealogical research and publication, no 
history of the Rockwoods has made its appearance, such 
material as is in print being confined for the most part to 
brief family sketches in numerous local histories. 

The first generations are covered in Savage's "Genealog- 
ical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" (1860- 
62), with some errors corrected later by J. W. Porter in the 
New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 45, 
page 314, and Vol. 46, page 185. Abner Morse, in his "Gene- 
alogical Register of the Inhabitants, and History of the 
Towns of Sherborn and Holliston" (1856), on pages 21 1-23 1, 
has given the only genealogy of the family as a whole ; but it 
was much abbreviated, by no means free from errors, and is 
to-day much out of date. That article was reprinted in the 
author's "Genealogy of the Descendants of Several Ancient 
Puritans," Vol. I (1857), pages 103-122, with a coat of arms 
in colors and two pages of additions numbered 122^-122^., 

Since Morse's time, W. S. Tilden's " History of the Town 
of Medfield" (1887) and E. O. Jameson's "History of Med- 
way" (1886) have contained notices of the posterity of 
Nicholas Rockwood, of Medfield, as far as they continued to 
reside in the old towns. 

There is absolutely no printed account of the family in 
Grafton. F. C. Pierce, in his " History of Grafton" (1879), 
does not give it a place, though five successive generations 
had lived in town; the explanation probably being that the 
Rockwoods were neither among the original settlers, nor 
were any of the name living there when he wrote. 

In this contribution to the family history, original records 
have been consulted as far as possible, but much has been 
learned from living descendants, especially from our late 
cousin Mrs. Nancy G. (Brooks) Dolliver, who died 27 Sept., 



1903, at the age of 85. None took a deeper interest in the 
work than she, or would have felt more gratification at seeing 
it in print. 

The writer of these pages also returns grateful acknowledg- 
ment to his aunt, Mrs. Maria O. (Flagg) Hunt, who during 
our two years of pleasant companionship, 1902-04, has given 
many a helpful hint. 

In addition to collecting available records of the Grafton 
line, the compiler has taken much interest in the earlier 
generations of the family. In the Appendix is printed such 
information as could be gathered from many sources regard- 
ing the early Rockwoods in this country. This portion will 
be of equal interest to all persons of Rockwood ancestry. 

Charles A. Flagg. 
Library of Congress, 

Washington, D. C, February, 1905. 

ABBREVIATIONS. 

The common abbreviations are used: (b. for born; co. for county; d. lor 
died; dau. for daughter; m. for married; rem. for removed; res. for resided or 
residence; s. for son; unm. for unmarried). Where other contractions are 
used they are believed to be self-explanatory. If no state is mentioned, Massa- 
chusetts is to be understood. 



THE ROCKWOODS OF GRAFTON. 



Benjamin Rockwood** [John', Nicholas^, Richard}] ; born 
19 Nov., i697,t in the part of old Medfield incorporated as 
Medway in 171 3, and now the town of MilHs (since the divi- 
sion of Medway in 1885). His early life was spent in Med- 
way, where he served as selectman in 1736, 1738, and 1745. 
He was undoubtedly the Benjamin Rockwood, Jr.,f who, 
with other church members, was active in disciplining a 
brother for "striking into a pitch of the tune unusualy 
raised, Feb. 18, i739."§ It is equally probable that he was 
the Benjamin Rockwood, of Medway, who was impressed 
for service in " King George's War," as appears in a return 
of 1745.11 It is not recorded what this service was; perhaps 
in the Cape Breton expedition which captured Louisburg, as 
most of the troops were raised in the Massachusetts colony. 

In May, 1762, we find the signatures of Benjamin Rock- 
wood and Benjamin Rockwood, Jr., attached as witnesses to 
the will of Eleazer Flagg, of Grafton. It is not certain that 
he was the first of the family in town; more likely he re- 
moved thither to be near his son, who had purchased a farm 
adjoining the Flagg estate, in the preceding March. 

In June, 1763, he bought for himself from Israel and Jacob 
Stevens a tract of 1 50 acres on George Hill, Grafton, for £533 
6s. 8d. This purchase also included other parcels of five and 
forty acres, and still another described by the grantors as 
follows : "Together with two or three acres of land lying near 
Perly Meadow, laid out upon the right of Captain Jonas 

* For ancestry, see Appendix. 

t Vital records of Medfield, 1903. (Benjamin Rockett, son of Jobn and Bethia.) 

+ So called to distinguish from his father's brother Benjamin, who was a resident of Wren- 
tham, but had inherited real estate in Medway. We can learn of no other contemporary 
Benjamin Rockwood in Medway. 

§ Jameson, History of Medway, 1886, p. 107. 

II Same, p. 212. 



8 

Houghton, deceased, as also our right in the common and 
undivided land yet to be laid out on said Houghton s right 
that is not yet disposed of in Grafton aforesaid." Jonas 
Houghton, above-named, of whose rights Benjamin Rock- 
wood became possessed, was from Lancaster, one of the 40 
purchasers of Hassanimisco (Grafton) from the Indians in 
1728. This proprietary share was duly transmitted by will 
to the new owner's son, Benjamin Rock wood, Jr. 

Benjamin, the father, made his home on his new purchase 
on George Hill, not far from his son's residence in the Mer- 
riam District. He died 6 June, 1777 (gravestone record). 
There was evidently some trouble or delay in settling the 
estate, for appeals were made to the probate officials by two 
of the heirs. Appraisers appointed Aug., 1778, found real 
estate worth ^1,400, beside property which each of the 
heirs had already received. The share of the son was 
;^8oo; that of each daughter ;^400. 

Benjamin Rockwood married in Medfield, 7 Oct., 1723, 
Rachel Morse,* daughter of Benoni and Rachel (Bullard) 
Morse; born in Medfield, 30 May, 1702; died 8 Mar., 1778 
(gravestone record). 

Childien: 

2. i. Benjamin, b. Medway, 18 Nov., 1723; d. 13 Jan., 1801; m. 1750 

Ruth Adams. 

3. ii. Abigail, record of birth not found; mentioned in father's will as 

elder daughter; d. about 1811; m. John Daniels, 
iii. John, record of birth not found, but included in list of children, by 

Mrs. DoUiver. Probably d. young, as he is not mentioned in 

father's will, 
iv. Rachel, b. Medway, 5 July, 1737. According to Mrs. DoUiver, she 

made her home in Grafton with her sister, Mrs. Daniels; and, after 

the latter's death, when 85 years of age, went to live with Mrs. 

Sally (Flagg) Bennett, granddaughter of her brother Benjamin; 

d. about 1S29; unm. No record of death has been found. 

2. 

Benjamin Rockwood' [Senyamn']; born in Medway, 18 
Nov., 1723. As a young man he probably lived in his native 
town. The Worcester registry of deeds shows the sale by 

♦Vital records of Medfield, 1903 (Benjamin Rocket and Rachell Morse). 



Jonas Warren, of Upton, to Benjamin Rockwood, Jr., of 
Medway, 5 Jan., 1749-50, of a dwelling-house, barn and 70 
acres of land in Upton, the same being the southern part of 
land originally laid out to Capt. Jonathan Draper. The con- 
sideration was ^i ,100 (old tenor). To this home he brought 
his bride a few months later. 2 Mar., 1756, he purchased 4 
acres additional from the same Jonas Warren. 

After living in Upton eleven years, 5 Mar., 1761, the sale 
of his property there is recorded for ;^225, 13s. 4d. to Moses 
Holbrook, of Upton. 

A deed of 5 Mar., 1762, on file in Worcester, shows the con- 
veyance from Nathaniel Stedman, of Grafton, to Benjamin 
Rockwood, of Upton, for ^333, 6s. 8d. of a plot of land of 
about 102 acres in Grafton. This purchase, destined to be 
the family home for nearly one hundred years, was located 
in the Merriam District, about a mile east of the centre of the 
town, and bounded on the south by the Flagg estate, the 
home of Benjamin's son-in-law, Samuel Flagg. 

The original homestead was on the west side of the road, 
a little south of the old Rockwood house now standing, 
which was built by Benjamin's son, Moses Rockwood, Sr. 
On the death of his father in 1777, Benjamin Rockwood 
became possessed of a proprietor's share of one-fortieth of 
all undivided lands in town, and also considerable real estate 
on George Hill, Grafton. 

The little old school-house in the Merriam District, at- 
tended for generations by the children of that part of town, 
was erected on land by him given to the town on condition 
that it always be used for educational purposes. This land 
reverted to John Rockwood, his great-grandson, about 1900, 
on the final abandonment by the town of the district system. 

Benjamin Rockwood, Jr., died 13 Jan., 1801 (gravestone 
record). 

Married in Medway, 17 May, 1750, Ruth Adams, daughter 
of Daniel and Sarah (Sanford) Adams; born in Medway, 6 
Mar., 1728-29. She was admitted to the Grafton Church, 
26 Feb., 1775. Her Bible is in the possession of Henry H. 



lO 

Brooks, a descendant of her daughter Lydia, Died 22 Jan., 
I Si 7 (gravestone record). 
Children : 

Lydia, b. Upton, 12 Sept., 1751; d. Grafton, i Oct., 1824; ni. 1769, 
Samuel Flagg. 

Abigail, b. Upton, 12 Mar., 1754; d. Newton, 22 Aug., 1832; m. 
1 78 1, Daniel Rand. 

Ruth, b. Upton, 12 Mar., 1756. After the death of her father she 
continued to live in the old home, a part of the house having been 
left her by will. Her brother Moses inherited the remainder of 
the dwelHng, and unfortunately the relations between the two 
were not of the pleasantest. It may have turned her against the 
whole sex; at least all her property was willed to her three sisters 
Lydia Flagg, Abigail Rand, and Rhoda Taft, and their seven 
daughters. She d. in Grafton, 4 Sept., 18 16, unm. 
iv. Rhoda, b. Upton, 30 June, 1758; d. there, 16 May, 1759. 
V. Benjamin, b. Upton, 23 May, 1760. He is probably the Benjamin 
Rockwood, Jr., who marched, Aug., 1777, as a private in Capt. 
Joseph Warren's company on the Bennington alarm, and served 
again under the same captain in Col. Wheelock's militia regiment, 
Sept.-Oct., 1777. There is a family tradition, which we have 
been unable to verify, that he entered college, where his course 
was cut short by his death, which occurred 21 Jan., 1782 
(gravestone record), unm. 

6. vi. Rhoda, b. Grafton, 12 Sept., 1762; d. 2 Mar., 1826; ni. 1784, Rob- 

ert Taft. 

7. vii. Azubah, b. 21 Sept., 1765; d. Westminster, Vt., 20 Dec, 1836; m. 

ist, 1789, Daniel Grout; m. 2d, Isaiah Eaton. 

8. viii. Moses, baptized at Grafton, 5 June, 1768; d. Grafton, 26 Nov., 

1833; ni. 1792, Huldah Brigham. 



John Daniels. He is supposed to have been of the Dan- 
iels of Medway, but is not identified by Morse in his Genea- 
logical Register nor mentioned by Jameson, who has quite 
an extended genealogy of the family in his History of Med- 
way. It has not been possible to learn anything from his 
descendants. He was probably born in Medway, removing 
to Grafton, where he and his wife lived in George Hill on 
land she inherited from her father. No mention of his death 
has been found. 



II 

Married Abigail Rockwood^ [Benjamin*]; born in Med- 
way according to tradition, but not recorded; mentioned in 
her father's will as elder daughter. In 1803, after her hus- 
band's death, she sold the George Hill property to Jonathan 
and Moses C. Hayden, and spent her last days with her 
grandniece Mrs. Sally (Flagg) Bennett in North Grafton. 
The date of her death is not known, but her will, dated 30 
June, 1 8 10, was admitted to probate 8 Feb., 181 1. In it she 
left $2 each to her son and daughter; the balance of her 
little property to the Knox grandchildren. 

Children : 

i. Abigail, b. Medway, 1752, according to Morse. She is not men- 
tioned later, and probably died young. 

ii. Zebulon, b. Holliston, 9 July, 1758. He lived in Grafton, and saw 
considerable service in the Revolutionary War in various com- 
mands. Tradition speaks particularly of his campaigns in the 
"Jerseys." d. Grafton, 14 Feb., 1825, and is buried with several 
of his family in a lot near the tomb in the old burial ground, alto- 
gether unmarked, m. Grafton, 18 Apr., 1782, Sarah Brigham. 
(4 sons, 4 daus.) 

iii. Mary, b. Grafton, 8 Nov., 1766, usually known as Molly. She was 
living in Grafton in 1 811. m. Grafton, 24 Apr., 1796, JohnKno.x, 
of Ashford, Conn. (3 sons, 2 daus.) He deserted his wife and 
d. in Sutton about 1 8 11 . 



Samuel Flagg, son of Eleazer and Huldah (Chandler) 
Flagg; born in Grafton, 5 Dec, 1741. He inherited from 
his father, one of the town's earliest settlers, the estate in the 
Merriam District which the latter had received from his 
father, one of the 40 original proprietors of Hassanimisco or 
Grafton. Samuel Flagg was a prosperous farmer, held town 
offices, and as a man none stood higher in the respect of the 
community. He died in Grafton, 17 Oct., 1824. 

Married in Grafton, 28 Dec, 1769, Lydia Rockwood^ 
[Benjamin^, Benjamin^]; born in Upton, 12 Sept., 1751. 
She was remembered by those who knew her as small in 
stature, nervous and somewhat impulsive, but industrious, 
and withal a little proud of her social position in town. Her 



12 

house was well stocked with the necessaries and luxuries of 
the period, and many a valued heirloom is preserved among 
her descendants at the present day, especially by Miss Sarah 
A. Hale, of Grafton, a granddaughter of her son Jeremiah. 
She died in Grafton, i Oct., 1824. 
Children, all born in Grafton: 

HuivDAH, b. 15 Sept., 1770; d. Grafton, 21 Oct., 1778. 
i. vSamuel, b. 9 Aug., 1772; d. Grafton, 7 Nov., 1778. 
ii. Sally, b. 24 Sept., 1774; lived all her life in Grafton, and d. there 
28 Mar., 1863; m. ist, 1791, John Bennett, a hatter, undertaker, 
and farmer in Grafton (i son, 1 dau.); m. 2d, 1823, Amos RlHs; 
they soon separated, and she resumed name of Mrs. Bennett. 
She was the grandmother of Mrs. Nancy G. Dolliver, to whom 
allusion has been elsewhere made. 

iv. Abel, b. 16 Apr., 1777; d. Grafton, 15 Oct., 1778. 

V. Jeremiah, b. 26 Dec, 1779; in shipping business in Boston, and 
later a farmer in Grafton, in the Merriam District, south of his 
father's place, d. Grafton, 27 Aug., 1843. m. ist, 1799, Lydia 
Drury; m. 2d, 1801, Sarah Brigham, widow of Benjamin Kings- 
bury (3 sons, 2 daus.). 

vi. Chandler, b. i Jan., 1782; graduate of Brown Univ., 1803; a 
noted physician at Marblehead, where he d. 10 Sept., 1859. m. 
1815, Lucretia B. Lewis (i dau.). 

vii. Benjamin, b. 25 Apr., 1784; physician, Worcester, Mass., and 
Athens, Me. d. Athens, i Jan., 1816. m. ist, 1806, Lydia Har- 
rington (i son); m. 2d, 181 5, Lydia Leighton (i dau.). 

viii. Joseph, b. 2 Dec, 1786; gave up his plans in Hfe to help his father 
at home, receiving the farm at the latter's death, d. Grafton, 
5 Dec, 1841. m. 1821, Olivia Rebecca Milliken; she m. 2d, 
1844, Timothy Hunt, and died 1886 (3 sons, 3 daus.). The 
compiler of this work is a grandson of Joseph. 



5- 

Daniel Rand, son of Daniel and Martha ( ) Rand; 

born in Shrewsbury, 12 July, 1760. Lived in Shrewsbury 
in early life; 20 May, 1785, bought a farm in Grafton from 
John Maynard and removed to that town. In Nov., 1797, 
he sold the same to William Brigham for ^^750, also his pew, 
No. 36, in the meeting-house. Worcester was his next resi- 
dence, till Jan., 1824, when he sold for $3,000 to William 
Eaton all the land he held in Worcester and Shrewsbury and 



13 

removed to Newton. He died in Newton 14 Sept., 1828, 
intestate, leaving an estate valued at $5,764. 

Married in Grafton, 21 June, 1781, Abigail Rockwood.** 
[Benjamin', Benjamin^]; born in Upton, 12 Mar., 1754; died 
in Newton, 22 Aug., 1832. 

Children : 

i. John, b. Shrewsbury, 2 Apr., 1782; a merchant in Boston, dealing 

in West India goods. Was stricken with paralysis and unable 

to move from his chair for 20 years, d. about 1 853. m. a widow 

Mrs. Duade. (No children.) 
ii. Levinah, b. Shrewsbury, 13 Feb., 1784; lived for some years with 

her aunt, Mrs. Lydia (Rockwood) Flagg, in Grafton, d. about 

1824, unm. 
ill. Daniel, b. Grafton, 6 Oct., 1785; was a watchmaker in Boston; 

went to California as a gold seeker about 1850; died on the way 

and was buried at sea in the Pacific, m. Howard (2 

daus., I son). 
iv. Abigail, b. Grafton, 29 Feb., 1788; d. in Newton, unm. 
V Artemas, b. Grafton, 11 Aug., 1789; was a manufacturer and 

dealer in combs in Boston; d. there Aug., 1868. unm. 
vi. Mary, b. Grafton, 23 Feb., 1791; d. Brookline, 13 May, 1857; m. 

about 182 1, PhinehasGoodnough, a farmer in Brookhne (3sons). 
vii. Ira, b. Grafton, 24 Sept., 1793; was a dealer in West India goods 

in Boston, and later a farmer, d. Newton, 30 Sept., 1862, unm. 
viii. C.\LviN, b. Grafton, 26 Feb., 1796; a farmer in Newton, where he d. 

27 Aug., 1861; m. EHza Holmes, (i dau.) 
ix. Lydia, probably b. in Worcester about 1799; d. Boston, Oct., 1868, 

unm. 



Robert Taft, son of Robert and Jane (Crag) Taft; born 
in Upton, 15 Oct., 1756. Was a shoemaker; res. Upton. 
Rem. to Barre, Mass., about 1794, and bought 100 acres of 
land in that town, from Reuben Tatman, 10 June, 1 795. He 
died 13 Oct., 1824, aged 68.* 8 Nov., 1824, the widow 
requested that her husband's estate be administered by their 
daughter Nancy Conant, as only heir. Robert Taft married 
in Grafton, 8 Jan., 1784, Rhoda Rockwood" [Benjamin', 
Benjamin^]; born in Grafton, 12 Sept., 1762; died 2 Mar., 
1826.* 

Children: 

i. Polly Taylor, b. Upton, 8 Oct., 1784; d. young. 

* Vital records of Barre, 1903. 



14 

ii. Nancy [birth recoioed as Anna], b. Upton, 6 June, 1787; d. Raric 
23 Dec, 1864, aged 77; m. Elijah Conant [intention filed, ii Nov., 
1809]; res. Barre. He died before 1824. (2 sons, i dau.) 

iii. Polly, b. Upton, 24 Oct., 1789; was undoubtedly the Miss Taft who 
d. 14 Apr., 1807, aged 17.* 

iv. Rhoda, birth not recorded; d. July, 1820, aged 25.* 

f- 

Daniel Grout, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Adams) 
Grout; born in Grafton, 28 Feb., 1763. When he was about 
14 years of age the family removed to Ac worth, N. H. He 
was a physician in Acworth and died there 2 Oct., 1802. 
Married in Westboro, i Feb., 1789, Azubah Rockwood" 
[Benjamin', Benjamin^]; born 21 Sept., 1763 (according to 
family record; baptized, Grafton, 9 Mar., 1766). She mar- 
ried 2d, Isaiah Eaton and died in Westminster, Vt., 20 Dec, 
1836. 

A number of pieces of furniture, silverware, etc., once 
belonging to Azubah Rockwood are now in the possession of 
her grandson, Wm. Grout Barrett, of San Francisco. 

Child of Daniel and Azubah Grout : 

i. Nancy, b. Acworth, N. H., 14 June, 1790; d. Chester, Vt., 12 Nov., 
1872; m. i8ig, Thomas T. Barrett (b. 1792; physician in Ches- 
ter, Vt.; d. 1863). (i dau., 3 sons.) 

Isaiah Eaton, son of Timothy, Jr., and Abigail (Massey) 
Eaton; born in Haverhill, 15 Oct., 1757. 19 Apr., 1775, he 
enlisted for 8 months as private under Capt. James Sawyer 
in Col. James Frye's Massachusetts regiment. In Dec, 1775 
he again enlisted for 1 2 months as artificer under Capt. Bacon 
and in March, 1 777, for a year and a half in the same capacity. 

Some time before his second marriage he had removed to 
Westminster, Vt., where his trade is said to have been that 
of goldsmith. He was known as Major Eaton. In 1832 he 
applied for and was granted a pension for Revolutionary 
services, stating in his application that he had been twice 
married and had six children living. 

* vital records of Barrc, 1 903. 



15 

Died in Westminster, 21 Jan., 1847. 

He married ist, Priscilla Davis (?), who died Nov., 1804. 
Married 2d, Azubah B-ockwood*' [Benjamin', Benjamin*]; 
widow of Daniel Grout; born 21 Sept., 1765; died at West- 
minster, 20 Dec, 1836. 

Child by 2d wife : 

i. WiLUAM Grout, b. Westminster, Vt., 3 June, 1808; d. there, 30 Sept., 
1813. 

8. 

Moses Rockwood" [Benjamin'^, Benjamin']; no record of 
birth, but baptism recorded in Grafton, 5 June, 1768. He 
inherited the home place in the Merriam District, his unmar- 
ried sister Ruth being left a portion of the house in her 
father's will. A short distance north of the old homestead 
he erected a new dwelling, which stands to-day as the " Old 
Rockwood house" on the west side of the road. He never 
held public office nor interested himself greatly in outside 
affairs. Was considered a just man, but stern and some- 
what hard, with very little that was genial in his nature. 
His industry was indefatigable and he was reputed a thrifty 
farmer, unusually prosperous for the times. Died in Graf- 
ton, 26 Nov., 1833. 

He married in Grafton, 12 Apr., 1792, Huldah Brigham, 
daughter of Ezekiel and Martha (Bigelow) Brigham; born 
I Dec, 1762; died in Grafton, 3 Oct., 1833. 

Children, both born in Grafton: 

9. i. Sally, b. 10 Oct., 1792; d. Oxford, 15 Feb., 1851; ni. 1831, Clark 

Adams. 
10. ii. Mo.sES, b. 20 Apr., 1796; d. Grafton, 2 June, 1835; m. 1823, Nancy 
Livermore. 

9- 

Clark Adams, son of John and Ehzabeth ( ) Adams; 

born in Northbridge, 5 Nov., 1773. He resided in North- 
bridge till after his second marriage. Removed to Charlton, 
where he purchased a farm of 95 acres in the northeastern 
part of the town. He died 8 May, 1S50. 



i6 - -. 

Married ist, in Northbridge, 15 Mar., 1798, Silence Ben- 
son (6 sons, 2 daughters). She died 4 Sept., 1829, ^nd he 
married 2d, in Grafton, 19 Oct., 1831, Sally Rockwood' 
[Moses^, Benjamin^ Benjamin*]; born in Grafton, 10 Oct., 
1792. After her husband's death she removed to Oxford 
and died there 15 Feb., 1851. 

Child, by 2d wife: 

i. Marv Euza, d. Oxford, 18 July, 1857, aged 21; m. Stone. No 

children. 

10. 

Moses Rockwood" [Moses'^, Benjamin', Benjamin*]; born 
in Grafton, 20 Apr., 1796. On his marriage his father gave 
him a portion of the farm, and a new house was erected on the 
opposite or east side of the road, later known as the "New 
Rockwood house," still standing. He was an orderly and 
energetic man, a model farmer; also dealt in cattle. He 
would fatten the stock and drive it to market in Brighton, 
before the day of railroads, starting as early as 2 in the morn- 
ing. By inheritance and his own thrift, he accumulated 
quite a property for the time, and his family were left well 
provided for, despite his early death, which occurred in Graf- 
ton, 2 June, 1835. 

He married in Leicester, 2 June, 1823, Nancy Livermore, 
daughter of Salem and Nancy (Walker) Livermore. She 
was born in Leicester, 13 Oct., 1800; married 2d, 22 Feb., 
1837, Stephen Adams, of Grafton, and removed with him to 
Paxton about 1840. He died Oct., 1846, having had 3 chil- 
dren by her. She removed to Leicester about 1 847, and died 
30 Dec, 1875. 

Children of Moses and Nancy Rockwood : 

i. Salem Livermore, b. Leicester, 2 June, 1824; d. Grafton, 9 -Apr., 
1840. 
n. ii. John, b. Grafton, 20 Oct., 1825; m. 1846, Melinda A. Prouty. 

12. iii. Angeline, b. Grafton, 24 Oct., 1827; m. 1845, James L. Meriam. 
iv. David, b. Grafton, 26 June, 1830; d. Paxton, 19 Oct., 1846. 

13. V. Mary, b. Grafton, 7 Nov., 1833; m. 1850, Henry Lamb. 

vi. Moses Brigham, b Grafton, 14 July, 1835; d. Leicester, 30 Jan., 
1847. 



. 17 

II. 

John Rockwood^ [Moses', Moses''', Benjamivf, Benjamin']', 
born in Grafton, 20 Oct., 1825. Rem. with the family to 
Paxton about 1840. After his marriage, went back to Graf- 
ton and lived for a time on the old Rockwood place in the 
Merriam District, which he had inherited; occupying the 
house of his grandfather, Moses, Sr. About 1855 he sold the 
farm, which then finally passed out of the family. Removed 
to Worcester, i860, and became a dealer in farm produce. 
His wife was an invalid for 15 years before her death, and 
nearly all of his time was devoted to the care of her. He is 
the last of the Grafton Rockwoods. 

Married in Spencer, 23 May, 1846, Melinda Adeline Prouty, 
daughter of John N. and Melinda (Luther) Prouty; born in 
Spencer, 8 Mar., 1824; died in Worcester, 29 Feb., 1904. 

Child: 

14. i. Adeline Ella, b. Grafton, 10 July, 1848; m. 1872, Norman A. Har- 
rington. 

12. 

James Lovell Meriam, son of Samuel and Nancy T. 
(Nichols) Meriam; born in Oxford, 11 Aug., 1822; served 
apprenticeship as a house builder. Was a contractor about 
17 years, living in Oxford one year after marriage, Leicester 
four years, Palmer 2 years, and removing to Princeton, 111., 
in 1853. 1863 he went to Chicago and opened an office as 
architect and superintendent, continuing there until his 
death, which occurred in Chicago, 4 July, 1897. He married 
in Leicester, 2 Dec, 1845, Angeline Rockwood" [Moses' , 
Moses^, Benjamin', Benjamin^]; born in Grafton, 24 Dec, 
1827. All her life she has been actively engaged in church 
work, and served many years on the executive board of three 
of the largest philanthropic institutions in Chicago. 

Children, all born in Princeto'n, 111. : 

i. James Clarence, b. 2 June, 1855; was a salesman in Chicago, and d. 

there, 5 Sept., 1888. m. Chicago, 24 Dec, 1878, Nettie Agnes 

Downing. (3 children.) 
ii. Arthur LovELL, b. 25 Oct., 1857; an architect and superintendent 

in Chicago; removing, Oct., 1S99, to Springfield, III. m. Mar- 

shalltown, la., 25 Oct., 1881, Minnie Colley. 
iii. Alice Laura, b. 8 Aug., 1859; d. Chicago, i Dec, 1884. unm. 



i8 



13- 



Henry Lamb,* son of Liberty and Harriet N. (Stone) 
Lamb; born in Leicester, 8 Aug., 1828. Was a carpenter in 
Rochdale (Leicester) and Oxford. He died in Oxford, 19 
Feb., 1888. Married in Pomfret, Conn., 19 Feb., 1850, 
Mary Rockwood*^ [Moses' , Moses^, Benjamin', Benjamin^]-, 
born in Grafton, 7 Nov., 1833; living in Worcester with her 
brother, John Rockwood. 

Children, both born in Leicester: 

i. Mary Elizabeth, b. i Apr., 1852; res. West Auburn, a widow; m. 

William L. Lamb,* a farmer and wood chopper in Oxford, (i 

dau.) 
ii. Henrietta Viola, b. 12 May, 1859. m. 1877, William J. Lamb,* a 

shoemaker in Worcester. (No children.) 

14. 

Norman Andrew Harrington, son of Thomas and Rhoda 
(Truesdell) Harrington; born in Jaffrey, N. H., 10 Oct., 1848. 
Is in fire insurance business in Worcester. He married, 
Worcester, 23 May, 1872, Adeline Ella Rockwood' [John\ 
Moses'', Moses^, Benjamin^, Benjamin^]; born in Grafton, 10 
July, 1848. She was a school teacher before marriage. 

Children, all born in Worcester: 

i. Florence Melinda, b. Apr., 1873; is living at home, unm. 

ii. Lillian Rockwood, b. June, 1880; m. 1900, Milton C. Snyder. He 
is in machinery business with his father in Worcester; a book- 
keeper. 

iii. Harold John, b. 11 Jan., 1882; d. 22 Jan., 1882. 

* It is a remarkable fact that these three Lambs arc of different families, and, as far as 
known, entirely unrelated. 



THE EARLY ROCKWOODS IN 
MASSACHUSETTS. 



THE EARLY ROCKWOODS. 

The student is at once called to notice an apparent confu- 
sion of names in the early generations in this country : Rock- 
wood and Rockett used interchangeably, with the latter form 
predominating. For example: the vital statistics of Med- 
field, Mass., down to 1728, as kept by the town clerks, show 
II Rockets, 49 Rocketts, i Rockitt, and 5 Rockwoods; all 
members of the one family. 

Abner Morse gave what seems to be the true explanation 
of this ; after much investigation he became convinced " that 
the name was never spelled Rockett by the family. It was 
so pronounced, as it still is, and so written by others, and 
answered to by the Rockwoods. But on no petition, deed, 
will, or certificate, ancient or modern, signed by either of them, 
have I ever found it subscribed otherwise than Rockwood ; and 
both Nicholas- and John'-, as if mindful of the importance of 
the true orthography, had their marriages in 1656 and 1662 
recorded by the name of Rockwood. Such precaution in 
their day and circumstances was anomalous and significant. 
Other families yielded to innovation, adopted without resist- 
ance the misspelling of clerks, and seldom if ever recovered 
the original orthography of their names when thus publicly 
corrupted. But the Rockwoods (some if not all of the 4 
first generations) withstood the corruption [universal on 
town records until 1728], continued to subscribe their names 
Rockwood, and they seem finally to have effected the correc- 
tion everywhere, though at different and wide intervals. 
None of the race are known to retain the more convenient 
spelling of Rocket." 

In the half century since Morse wrote the above, the old 
pronunciation of the name as Rocket seems to have been 
entirely abandoned, but as a survival we note to-day marked 
family traits or peculiarities still spoken of as " Rocketty." 



22 

The writer has had Httle time or opportunity to carry the 
investigations back to the mother country. He has found 
no evidence pointing to the early EngHsh home of our ances- 
tors; but it is fair to state that some of our kindred in Amer- 
ica have become convinced that such connection is estab- 
Hshed, and have adopted a coat of arms to which it entitles 
them. 

It is, at all events, probable that Morse is in error in his 
conclusions as to the origin and etymology of the name: 
from rocky woods. Rockwood (as well as Rockett) is prac- 
tically unknown in the mother country, and wherever it 
appears can be almost invariably identified as another spelling 
of Rook wood, which is a somewhat common English sur- 
name. In Burke's "General Armory ' ' are recognized no less 
than eight different coats of arms of the family.* Variations 
of spelling occur, as Rookewood and Rokewood, the latter 
clearly an intermediate form between the common English 
one and our own. As to the derivation of the name, the fact 
that each of the eight coats of arms contain either 3 or 6 chess 
rooks leaves little room for doubt. It may here be added 
that Morse appends in a foot-note the tradition that a "page 
by the name of Rockwood, at the court of Henry VIII, in a 
game of chess with his king won a manor belonging to one of 
the monasteries distributed in his reign, and that in com- 
memoration of the victory, received from the king for his 
arms 6 chessrooks." A much earlier tradition is found in a 
curious old history of the family, " Vetustissima prosapia 
Rookewodorum de StanningefildeincomitatuSuffolcise,"! a 
manuscript compiled by a member of the family in 161 9: 
" And so came these 6 towers or chesserookes, quasi de Rupe 
Lignea, w'^ some do afhrme were originarely geven to the 
hrste bearer of this coate for his excellente skyll in this exer- 

* Some of the American Rockwoods may have been misled into adopting the armorial 
bearings illustrated in a colored plate in Morse's v^ork. This is entirely unauthorized. The 
various coats of arms described by Burke all agree in bearing the chess rooks, but beyond 
that there are various differences. No right to assume any arms can be upheld until (first) 
the descent from an English family has been absolutely proved, and (second), the arms of 
that English family are established. 

t Collectanea topographica et heraldica, v. 2 (18,35). p. 120-147. 



23 

cyse, of in this respecte playeiige with the Conqueror at his 
firste entery into this lande." 

Rookwood means, then, rooks or towers of wood, and is 
derived from the coat of arms borne in early times. 

It may be further noted that the eastern counties of Nor- 
folk and Suffolk are the seats of the English Rookwoods, and 
probably there rather than in Dorset, as Morse suggests,* 
must we search for the ancestral abode of the race. The 
published heraldic Visitations of these counties contain pedi- 
grees of families of the name. But these investigations in 
England must be left to others. 

In the absence of any general history of the family it has 
seemed best to preserve here such information as is at hand 
on the early generations. 

ANCESTRY OF BENJAMIN ROCKWOOD 
OF GRAFTON. 

First Generation, 

Richard Rockwood. 

We have no definite information concerning the parentage 
and early English home of this pioneer of the family in Amer- 
ica. Nor is this a matter to cause surprise; probably the 
same is true of a majority of those who came to the colonies 
in the 17th century, despite the willingness of many family 
historians to accept the most shadowy indications of descent. 

We know that various families of Rookwood flourished in 
the mother country at the time, and it is by no means im- 
probable that some of the investigations continually being 
made in English records may establish the connection. 

This we are sure of at least : Richard Rockwood, or Rock- 
ett as the name is commonly found, was an early settler in 
Dorchester, one of the oldest towns in the Massachusetts 
Bay Colony. 

* Morse's inference as to the Dorset origin of the family was based on the conjecture that 
Richard Rockwood 's first wife, the mother of Nicholas (and so married as early as 1627) was 
a daughter of Zachary Bicknell, who came from Weymouth, Dorset. We know now that it 
was the widow and not the daughter of Bicknell that Richard married, and the date not 
earlier than 1636. 



24 

In 1630 no less than 17 vessels crossed the water to New 
England, bearing the first members of the new colony, i ,000 
souls or more. Among them, the Mary and John, which 
weighed anchor at Plymouth, Devonshire, seems to have 
been the second to reach our shores, the 30th of May. 

Its 140 passengers, men of Dorset, remained together and 
founded Dorchester. According to the histories, the next 
shipload of settlers for the town arrived in July, 1633, from 
Weymouth, Dorset, bringing 80 accessions. Whether Rich- 
ard Rockwood was in either of these parties or, embarking in 
some other vessel, landed elsewhere and came to Dorchester 
independently, may never be known. Hotten,* the standard 
authority on colonial immigrants, unfortunately, could not 
learn the names of passengers on these vessels. 

Dorchester at this period was the largest and wealthiest 
town in the colony. In Oct., 1633, on the occasion of raising 
a colonial tax of ^^400, her share was i^8o, while the other 
towns, Boston, Salem, Watertown, etc., paid ^48 or less. 

The Dorchester archives, though claimed as the earliest 
ones preserved in Massachusetts, are quite defective. We 
are told that the first book, in which were entered names of 
settlers, localities allotted to each, and records of births and 
deaths, was burnt in 1657.! 

Among the earliest entries preserved to us is the following, 
under date of 3 Dec, 1633: "Ordered that Rich: Rocket is 
to have an acre addition to his home lott in consideration of 
removing his palet in regard a publicke way is to be through 
his lott."§ Again, 10 Feb., 1634-35, 8 acres more were 
granted to Richard Rocket, || and Feb., 1635-36, 6 acres 
more to Richard Rocket.l 

Another of the name was early in Dorchester: John 
Rocket, perhaps a brother of Richard, but unidentified. 
He had a grant of 4 acres on " Naponset Necke," the 5th of 

* Our early emigrant ancestors. The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants who 
went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700. 2d edition, 1880. 
t NewEng. Hist, and Gen. Register, v. 21 (1867), p. 164. 
t Fence. 

5 Boston Record Commissioners. Fourth report, 1880, 3d edition, 1896, p. 4. 
II Same, p. 10. 
H Same, p. 15. 



25 

August, 1633,* but may not have come to the new settle- 
ment at all, as i Sept., 1634, we read that the land laid out 
to him was granted to another, f " The map of the meadows 
beyond the Naponset river and how y^ is allotted out, "J with 
its 49th entry, "Rocket, 4 a." undoubtedly relates to this 
John Rocket, and so it would seem that the date of the map 
is established. 

The Dorchester records have no further mention of Rock- 
etts or Rockwoods. In the spring of 1636, the church and 
a large part of the population withdrew in a body to Windsor, 
Conn., and the town never again recovered its pre-eminence. 

The transfer of Richard's Dorchester property was not 
recorded; in fact it is notable that the Registry of Deeds of 
Suffolk County § contains no entry of a transfer of land to or 
jroyn a Rockwood down to the death of Nicholas in 1680. 
The former fact is explainable, since they were always among 
the first settlers or proprietors, and received their land by 
grant or allotment rather than by purchase ; the latter can 
be attributed only to carelessness in omitting to record. 

Probably Richard Rockwood left Dorchester about the 
time of the exodus to Connecticut in 1636 and we infer that 
he sojourned for a time in the neighborhood of Weymouth, 
then a flourishing settlement a few miles farther south on the 
coast. There lived the widow Bicknell, whom he married in 
that or the following year. And in 1639-40, he is spoken of 
as "of Monoticott," which is the name of the stream forming 
Weymouth's northern boundary, and seems to have likewise 
designated the region on the north of this stream, the site of 
the modern village of Braintree, then and for some years 
afterward practically unsettled. 

A notable trait of our early colonial ancestors, coming as 
they did from a country where landholding was the privilege 
of the few, was their desire to own large estates. Then, too, 
the natural increase was rapid ; towns speedily became too 

* Boston Record Commissioners. Fourth report, 1880, 3d edition, 1896, p. 2. 
t Same, p. 7. 
X Same, p. 321. 

5 The various homes of the family, Dorchester, Braintree, Medfield, Medway, were all in 
Suffolk County, till the formation of Norfolk County in 1 793. 



26 

cramped, and boundaries were enlarged or extensive migra- 
tions removed the surplus population. Boston, with its 
advantage of location, soon outstripped the other towns, 
and the narrow peninsula became almost at once over- 
crowded. Out beyond Dorchester to the south between the 
Neponset river and the Monoticot, lay a tract, containing 
Mt. Wollaston, well known a few years earlier as the resort 
of Morton of Merry Mount, but now unoccupied; and by 
decree of the General Court in Sept., 1634, it was "ordered 
that Boston shall have enlargement at Mount Wollaston." 
Under this permission two or three large grants were made 
by the town of Boston, and then, 4 Jan., 1636, a committee 
appointed with full powers to allot the land. At the very 
outset the settlement was almost broken up by the Antino- 
mian troubles, the party of Mrs. Hutchinson and her sym- 
pathizers centering there until expelled by the intolerant 
colonial authorities. But 16 Sept., 1639, those dwelling at 
the Mount had so increased in numbers that a church was 
formed. Settlers came in rapidly, and among many like 
grants from the Boston committee is the following : " 24 Feb. 
1639-40, to Richard Rockett, of Monoticott, at Mount 
Woolystone, a great lot there for 5 heads 20 acres, and 20 
acres more at his request. Upon the covenant of 3s. per 
acre."* 

Should we wonder who the "five heads" were, there were 
certainly: Richard and wife Agnes; probably also Nicholas 
and Lydia, children of Richard, and John Bicknell, then 
aged 16, son of Agnes by her first husband. This, of course, 
is pure conjecture. The question of Nicholas will be taken 
up later; Lydia, if a daughter of Richard and Agnes (as 
stated by the historian of the Adams family and others) 
must have been their first child, and born not later than 
1637, as she was married to Edward Adams in 1652. John 
Rock wood, only recorded child of Richard and Agnes, was 
not born till Dec, 1641, about five years after the marriage* 
of his parents. And it may be questioned if John Bicknell, 

* Second report of the Record Commissioners of the city of Boston, IS77, p. 50. 



27 

even if living at the time in his step-father's family, would 
confer an added right to land. 

The later history of Richard Rockwood is veiled in obscur- 
ity. We may suppose him to have lived an uneventful life 
in the new home soon incorporated as Braintree, and now 
the town of Quincy, since the division of old Braintree. 
His name is not found in the records either as public 
official or lawbreaker, nor yet in the list of freemen of the 
colony. 

It appears that he died in 1660. "An inventory of the 
Estate of Richard Rockwood late of Braintry Deceased the 
7 (9) 60"* shows "a dwelling-house standing and 4 acres of 
ground and a little orchard, all at ^15"; with other items 
to make a total of ^^38, 3s. 4d. Of this amount goods to a 
value of ^8, 8s. were given to his "dafter" and £4., 13s. paid 
"to Richard Taire to satisfy for a cowe that was killed by 
J no. Rockwood." 

The above paper was sworn to, 15 Nov., 1660, by Elder 
Stephen Kingsly and "Ann Rockett." 

Very little is known regarding the wives of Richard Rock- 
wood. If we are correct in supposing Nicholas to have been 
his son, then the first marriage must have occurred in Eng- 
land as early as 1628; but the name of this wife, whether or 
not she accompanied him from England and the date of her 
death are unsettled questions. At all events Richard must 
have married the widow Agnes Bicknell in 1636 or early in 
1637. 

We find that Zachary Bicknell, aged 45, his wife, Agnes, 
27, and their son John, 11, came from Weymouth, England, 
Mar., 1635, in the ship Assurance.'\ 

They settled at Weymouth, out south of Boston, on the 
coast beyond Dorchester and Braintree. Zachary Bicknell 
died soon, probably in 1636. J The son, John, was the ances- 
tor of the American family of the name. Some authorities 

* On file at Suffolk County Registry of Probate. 

t Hotten. Our early emigrant ancestors, 2d ed., 1880, p. 286. 

Bicknell. A memorial of . . . family of . . . Joshua Bicknell, 1880. 

t New Eng. Hist, and Gen. Reg., v. 46, p. 185. 



28 

have erroneously stated that Agnes, wife of Richard Rock- 
wood was daughter, and not wife of Zachary Bicknell, and 
it has more lately been asserted that she was a daughter of 
Robert Lovell. The latter came in the same ship with the 
Bicknells, and a comparison of his recorded age, 40 years, 
with that of Agnes Bicknell, 27, effectually settles that ques- 
tion. 

The fact as well as the period of the marriage of Richard 
Rockwood to Agnes Bicknell is proved by the following order 
of the General Court of 9 Mar., 1636-37: "William Reade 
haveing bought the house and 20 acres of land at Weymoth, 
unfenced for 7' 13^4", w'^'' was Zachary Bicknels, (after Bick- 
nels death) of Rich"' Rocket & his wife, is to have the sale 
confirmed by the child* when hee cometh to age, or else the 
child to alow all such costs as the Court shall thinke meet."t 

Although the death of Mrs. Agnes Rockwood is not found 
in the defective town records of Braintree, it does occur in a 
copy of the same forwarded to Boston by the clerk, 9° (5°), 
1643,1 o^" 3.S we should write it, 9 July, 1643. 

Evidently Richard remarried, though here again the rec- 
ord of the event is lacking. We may suppose the "Ann 
Rockett" who appeared as witness to the inventory of his 
estate, to have been his widow. In the probate court of 
Suffolk Co., 20 Apr., 1664: " Power of administration to the 
Estate of the late Anne Rockwood is granted to John Tay- 
lor that married Phabe, Daughter to said Anne Rockwood 
in Behalf e of His Wife & such others as it may Concerne.'' 

"An Inventorye of what goods was found lefte by y 
Widow Rockwood Late of Braintree, at her Decease March 
I, 1664" showed an estate of £21, 12s. 6d., including "a 
House, Orchard and Land about the Highway, ^10." 

The Phebe mentioned above may have been Anne's daugh- 
ter by Richard Rockwood or by an earlier marriage. The 
former supposition seems more probable, as she is the only 
heir mentioned here, and the house and orchard, which was 

♦ John Bicknell. 

t Records of the Governor and Company of Mass. Bay, . v 1 , p. 1 89. 

t New Eng. Hist and Gen. Reg., v. 3 (1849), p. 247. (Agnes, wife of Richard Rockett.) 



29 

the most important item in the inventory appears to be 
the one which had figured in Richard Rockwood's estate four 
years earlier, and would hardly descend to one unconnected 
with the original owner. 



Second Generation. 

Nicholas Rockwood. 

It is proper to state in the beginning that some students 
of the family history believe that Nicholas was the first and 
not the second of our line in America; that he was a Rook- 
wood (or Rockwood) and not a son of Richard, who was a 
Rockett, and of an entirely different family; and finally that 
the record of his baptism in England in 1629 has been found, 
making him the heir of a family of gentlefolk. By virtue of 
this discovery some of the Rockwoods have adopted the 
armorial bearings of the English family to which they feel 
themselves entitled. 

The holders of the above theory do not care at this time 
to make the evidence public, but we do not understand it is 
claimed that the identity of this English Nicholas and our 
Nicholas of Medfield is yet conclusively established. 

On the other hand it must be admitted that we have found 
no direct proof that Richard of Braintree and Nicholas of 
Medfield were father and son. 

The date of Nicholas' birth, according to Morse, was about 
1628, and that seems to harmonize so Avell with known facts 
that it has secured general acceptance. 

Let us first consider the probability of Richard having a 
son born as early as that. The widow Bicknell, whom he 
married about 1636, was born about 1608, according to the 
register of passengers, while her son John Bicknell was born 
about 1624. So it is not only clear that Richard was old 
enough to have a son born in 1628, but also rather improb- 
able that in that age and situation he should have lived a 
bachelor till 1636, when he had been a landholder at least 
three years, and married a widow of 28. 



30 

Then Nicholas was not named, it may be urged, in the 
inventory of Richard's estate in 1660; but the former had 
then been nine years a resident of Medfield, and furthermore 
John Rockwood, an undoubted son of Richard, was men- 
tioned only because he, a minor, had accidentally killed a 
neighbor's cow. 

The argument from the dissimilarity of names that Rich- 
ard was a Rockett and Nicholas, a Rockwood, cannot be 
substantiated. We have been careful to spell the name in 
each case as it is found on the records. If the very few 
allusions to Richard during his life read Rockett, the inven- 
tory of his estate, as well as that of his wife later, was in the 
name of Rockwood. In the case of Nicholas, the records 
usually read Rockwood (though Rocket also is found), but 
at his death it was the estate of Nicholas Rockett that was 
settled, and his descendants for the next two generations at 
least were almost invariably entered Rocketts on the records. 

Those who emphasize the significance of the transmission 
of Christian names as a proof of descent in colonial times, 
will note that no son of Nicholas bore the name Richard. 

The early Rockwoods seem to have disregarded custom 
here; for the failure of Nicholas to name a son for his father 
loses its significance, as we note that of Nicholas' six sons, no 
one named a child after him. 

Until the contrary is established by indubitable evidence, 
it seems safer to follow Abner Morse, Thomas Temple Rock- 
wood (181 2-1872), and the other older investigators who 
were satisfied of the relationship of Richard and Nicholas. 

The first mention of Nicholas we have found (unless we 
count him as one of the five heads referred to in the grant to 
Richard Rockwood 1639-40) is on his appearance at Med- 
field in 1 65 1. 

The town of Dedham had been founded in 1636, embracing 
a large tract of land east and south of the Charles river, in- 
cluding the modern Dedham, Medfield, and other towns. 
Certain of the settlers were early impressed most favorably 
with "Boggestow," in the valley of the Charles, a region 



31 

partly in their own territory eastward of the river and partly 
in the ungranted colony lands beyond. The two respec- 
tive owners having conveyed the domain to the new proprie- 
tors, Medfield was incorporated, May, 165 1. 

Our ancestor does not appear as one of the original incor- 
porators, but among the very earliest newcomers in the 
spring or summer of 1 65 1 was a group of men from Weymouth 
and Braintree, who all took land on the modern Bridge street, 
among them Nicolas Rockwood, who had 3 acres and 3 roods.* 
Morse, by the way, states that he went from Braintree to 
Medfield in 1650 with the sons of Henry Adams. 

From a portion of the town valuation of 1652, still pre- 
served, we find that Nicolas Rockwood was credited with 
estate to the value of i^ioo.t 

He erected a dwelling-house on his land, and as Morse 
informs us "seems to have been a husbandman in common 
circumstances, and a worthy and respected citizen." 

In addition to the home lot in the village on the east side 
(modern Medfield) he had land to the west of the river. The 
portion directly across formed part of the original Medfield, 
and out beyond that lay the so-called " new grant," given by 
the General Court in 1659. All this portion of the town be- 
yond the river was set off in 17 13 as Med way, but only the 
"new grant" is now known by that name, the older part 
having become a separate town in 1885, as Millis. 

In the original west side Nicholas Rockwood received land 
with the other proprietors of Medfield, 1 1 acres| in 1659, and 
after the new grant was made he drew by lot in 1660, a sec- 
tion of 85 acres. ^^ 

Nicho. Rocket, of Medfield, was made freeman of the col- 
ony 23 May, 1666. II 

Among the 77 proprietors of Medfield in 1675 occurs the 
name of Nicolas Rockwood and his sons Josiah and Samuel. t 

* Tilden. History of the Town of Medfield, 1887, p. 48. 
t Same, p. 56. 

t Jameson. History of Medway, 1886, p. 19. 
§ Same, p. 23. 

I! A volume of records relating to the early history of Boston, 1900. (29th report, Bosto n 
records), p. 148. 

IT Tilden. History of the Town of Medfield, 1887, p. 78. 



32 

The great event in Medfield's early history was its destruc- 
tion by Indians in King Philip's War.* After the burning 
of Mendon in 1675, Medfield was left as the most advanced 
settlement of the colony. In spite of a guard of 100 or more 
soldiers in the town, on the 21st of Feb., 1675-76, a band of 
Indians made an attack and burned 32 dwellings (about half 
the houses in town) , with barns and other buildings. Warn- 
ings had been given early, and most of the inhabitants were 
able to escape to the garrison houses. 17 only were killed, 
and several others wounded. 

Morse's statement that Nicholas and his family were shel- 
tered in the stone house at Bogistow Pond, we think is an 
error. That building, erected as a garrison house, and occu- 
pied as a dwelling by Geo. Fairbanks, was the refuge of those 
settled west of the river. Jameson found no evidence of 
Rockwoods living in that part of town in 1676, and we have 
reason to think that the home of Nicholas and family was 
still in the village east of the river, and hence that he found 
refuge in one of the several garrison houses in the neighbor- 
hood. 

While our ancestor's buildings were destroyed by the foe, 
none of the family seem to have been injured. 

The town was naturally impoverished by the dreadful 
calamity. 23 May, 1677, a petition was sent to the General 
Court praying for an abatement of the colonial rate, one of 
the signers being Nicolas Rockit.t 

Among their other interests the colonists did not forget 
or neglect their new college at Cambridge, and in 1675, the 
year before the Indian attack, 62 persons in Medfield sub- 
scribed to the "new brick college." On this list occurs the 
name of Nicholas Rockwood for iV bushels of corn and i 
Ijushel of wheat, t 

In 1678, in answer to a request for payment, the town au- 
thorities represented that certain of the citizens had been so 

* For accounts of this event sec Bodge. Soldiers in King Philip's War, 1896, p. 284. 
Exercises at the bi-centennial celebration of the burning of Medfield by Indians, 1876. 
Jameson, History of Medway, 1886, pp. 29-34. 

t Tilden. History of the Town of Medfield, 1887, p. 93. 

J Same. p. 77. 



33 

reduced in circumstances as to be unable to fulfil this obliga- 
tion, and, therefore, prayed that 1 1 men (of whom Nicholas 
Rockwood was one) be excused from paying the 14 bushels 
of corn and i bushel of wheat promised by them. 

This was accompanied by a letter from the pastor, Rev, 
John Wilson, "in behalf of foure persons in our Towne who 
according to the present state of things are in great straits 
as to payment of present rates. ... A third is Nicolas 
Rockwood, an old man whose house and barn with cattell 
not a few, with horseflesh save a colt, all burnt."* 

Nicholas must have rebuilt his house soon after its destruc- 
tion, for he deeded it in 1678 to his son-in-law, John Partridge. 
His third wife had died in 1677, and he seems to have with- 
drawn to the west side of the river, finally settling as Morse 
believed, "about one-quarter mile S.W. of Richardson's 
mills, in the N.E. part of Med way ' ' (now Millis) . 

On a list of those who took the oath of allegiance in 1678- 
79, occurs the name of Nic" : Rocket. t 

Nicolas Rockett died in Medfield, 26 Jan., 1680-81. As 
his estate included no houses, it is inferred that his latter 
days were spent with one of his sons, undoubtedly Josiah, 
who had erected a house in 1677, ^^^ was the only one living 
at that time across the river. 

The court records, 18 Mar., 1680-81, show that power to 
administer "the goods, estate and credits of Nicholas Rock- 
ett, late of Meadfield, dece'', intestate, is granted unto 
Josiah Rockett, his eldest son." 

The agreement for settling the estate bears signatures of 
the heirs as follows : 

Mark of Josiah Rocket. 

Mark of Samuell Rocket. 

Joseph rockeet. 

Mark of Benjamin Rocket. 

John partridge. 

Edward adams gardeen for John roockwod and nethan- 
iall roockwod. 

* Tilden. History of the Town of Medfield, 1887, p. 95. 

t A volume of records relating to the early history of Boston, 1900. (29th report, Boston 
records), p. 177. 

L05-'t;. 



34 

Nicholas Rockwood married ist, Jane , Writers on the 

family have generally assumed with a greater or less degree 
of certainty that she was an Adams, but the historians of the 
Adams family do not mention her. This marriage occurred 
and the two oldest children were born before Nicholas came 
to Medfield, probably in Braintree, as Morse and Savage 
agree. Mrs. Jane Rockwood died in Medfield, 15 Dec, 1654.* 
{3 sons.) Nicholas married 2d, in Medfield, 16 July, 1656, 
Margaret Holbrookf, whom Morse believes to have been a 
daughter of John Holbrook the first, immigrant ancestor of 
the family. She died in Medfield, 23 Apr., 1670. J (3 sons 
and I dau.) 

He married 3d, in Medfield, 26 May, 1675, Silence Dunt- 
ling.§ Nothing is known of her family. She died in Med- 
field, 9 Nov., 1677.11 (i son.) 

8 children, of whom the 6th child and 5th son was 

Third Generation. 

John Rockwood, born in Medfield, 12 Feb., 1662-63.^ 
He was only thirteen years of age when the town was at- 
tacked and his father's buildings destroyed by King Philip's 
warriors ; and undoubtedly removed with that parent to the 
west side of the river about 1678. At the latter 's death, in 
1680, being still under age, he and his younger brother, Na- 
thaniel, chose their uncle, Edward Adams, as guardian. In 
the division of the estate, he had a fifth part of the lot in 
the Upper Broad Meadow and 5 acres of upland lying near 
to it (now in the northern part of the town of Millis). 

Morse is authority for the statement that this inheritance 
was the homestead a half mile south of the lowest water priv- 
ilege on Bogistow Pond, from which we may understand that 
Nicholas Rockwood had spent his last days on this the most 

* Vital records of Medfield, 1 903. (Jone Rockwood, wife of Nicolas.) 

t Same. (Nicolas Rockwood and Margreat Hollock.) 

t Same. (Margaritt Rockett, wife of Nicolas.) 

§ Same. (N'icolas Rockett and Silence Duntling.) 

I Same. (.Silence Rockett, wife of Nicolas.) 

H Same. (John Rockitt son of Nicolas and Margarit.) 



35 

valuable part of his land. As his father's estate included 
no dwelling-house, John undoubtedly erected one of his own 
previous to his marriage in 1688. 

Settlers came in so slowly to the section west of the river 
that the tax list of Medfield for 1693 shows John Rockett as 
one of only 16 residents in that part of the town.* Again in 
1702, occurs the name of John Rocket on a list of Medfield 
proprietors living west of the river, t 

The same year John Rockett participated in the division 
of the Black Swamp, | not far from his residence. 

In 1709 he held the position of constable. 

The population had meanwhile increased so much on the 
west side of the river that that portion of Medfield was, in 
1 7 13, incorporated as Medway (the township including both 
the modern town of that name and Millis, set off from it in 
1885). 

John Rockwood was certainly one of the most prominent 
citizens of the new town ; was often chosen moderator of the 
town meetings; first town clerk in 17 13, and served again in 
1 7 16; on first board of selectmen in 17 13 and also in 17 14, 
'15, '17, '18, and '22, being each time named first, or chair- 
man of the board. 

He was likewise chairman of the committee to build a 
meeting-house in I7i3,§ and member of the joint committee 
of the two towns on the public lands of Medfield. 

Morse says, " He was styled Rev. on the records, probably 
from his speaking in religious assemblies, for I can find no 
evidence that he was ever ordained or otherwise licensed to 
preach than by common consent. He is presumed to have 
been a Separatist, and to have contributed to the establish- 
ment of the Baptist Church in Medfield." We have found 
no verification of this last conjecture; there was no Baptist 
Church in Medfield or Medway till long after his death, and if 
a Baptist at all it would seem that he must have changed 

* Jameson. History of Medway, 1886, p. 39. 
tTilden. History of the Town of Medfield, 1887, p. 112. 
t Jameson. History of Medway, 1886, p. 40. 
§ Same, p. 98. 



36 

late in life, for in that day official honors seldom went to 
dissenters from the established church. 

He died in Medway, 16 Dec, 1746. Married ist, in Med- 
field, 19 July, 1688, BethiaTwitchell,* daughter of Benjamin 

and Mary ( ) Twitchell, of Dorchester. She died in 

Medfield, i Jan., 1 706-07. f (6 sons, 2 daus.) Perhaps he 
was the John Rockett who married Rebecca Crafts, widow 
of Isaac Turner, in Medfield, 14 May, 1708.! If so, she must 
have died soon, without issue. 

He certainly married in Medfield, 20 June, 17 10, Sarah 
Adams, § daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Fussell) 
Adams; born in Medfield, 6 Dec, 1667; died there, 17 May, 
1758.11 No children. 

His 5th child and 4th son was 



Fourth Generation. 

Benjamin. 

See p. 7. 

* Vital records of Medfield, 1903. (John Rockett and Bethiah Twichell.) 

-\ Same. (Bethia Rockett, wife of John.) 

t Same. (John Rockett and Rebekah Turner.) 

§ Same. (John Rockett and Sarah Adams.) 

II Same. (Sarah Rockwood, widow of John.) 



